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This chocotorta Argentina cake is a true wonder and unbelievably easy. It’s a classic Argentina birthday cake layered with dulce de leche and then chilled in the refrigerator. This no-bake chocolate cake is one of the easiest traditional Argentina desserts you can make.
Table of Contents
What is Chocotorta Argentina Dessert?
The chocotorta Argentina dessert is one of the most popular Argentina desserts that’s eaten at home and not at restaurants.
The preparation is somewhat similar to a classic tiramisu or a grandmother’s biscuit cake.
In Spanish, chocotorta literally translates to “chocolate cake.” It is a traditional Argentina dessert that is typically made for birthdays.
No birthday celebration in Argentina is complete without a chocotorta or chocolate cake.
Combining traditional ingredients like dulce de leche with cream, coffee, and chocolate cookies, it is remarkably easy to make.
Discovering Chocotorta or Argentina Birthday Cake
While in Argentina exploring the local food specialties, we shared an Airbnb with locals in Buenos Aires.
One night, friends of our Airbnb hosts invited us to join them at a friend’s birthday party.
We were excited and looking forward to meeting other porteños (the name given to people from Buenos Aires).
The theme for the birthday party was “Peruvian ceviche” Since we were planning on traveling to Peru, we were eager to discover Peruvian ceviche in advance.
At some point during the festivities, our friends disappeared into the kitchen to make the cake.
Right before the party ended, they went back into the kitchen and emerged holding the chocotorta Argentina or chocolate cake.
Both Claire and I were intrigued. I can still vividly remember looking at the cake and salivating while singing happy birthday. My first bite into the creamy dessert was sublime.
Both Claire and I looked at each other and nodded in approval. We knew immediately we needed the Argentina chocotorta recipe.
This chocolate Argentina cake is not usually found on the dessert menus at restaurants. Argentinians eat it on a regular basis typically at family gatherings or birthday celebrations.
To try this traditional Argentina dessert, make it at home for friends and family. Put a spin on the next birthday celebration with this easy chocotorta Argentina cake.
The History of Argentina Chocotorta Cake
It’s rare when my previous advertising career and traditional recipes collide. While researching the origins of Argentina chocotorta recipe, I was thrilled to discover the inventor was an advertising executive.
In 1982, Marité Mabragaña, worked as a creative director at Ricardo de Luca, the largest Argentina advertising agency. Her clients at the time were a cream cheese company and a chocolate cookies company.
As a mother who cooked her family, she had the idea of coming up with a recipe that combined the two brands. She made the cake for her children and agency executives and it was an immediate hit.
Her clients needed a little bit more convincing, but they eventually came around. Television advertisements were created and the chocotorta dessert became popular throughout the country.
The success of the chocotorta Argentina cake is in its simplicity. A chocolate cake that mixes a few ingredients together and does not require any baking.
So simple, this dessert is credited to bringing men and boys into the kitchen to make it.
Nowadays, the chocotorta is the most Argentinian of cakes, present at almost every birthday party.
How to Make Argentine Chocotorta at Home
Done well, this simple chocotorta recipe can be transcendent. The key to a crowd-pleasing Argentina chocolate cake relies heavily on the quality of its ingredients.
Get the best quality dulce de leche you can get your hands on. Skip milk chocolate and garnish your cake using high-quality dark chocolate instead. Soak the cookies in freshly brewed quality coffee.
- Dulce de Leche or “sweet milk” from Argentina
- Cream Cheese
- Creme fraiche or sour cream (optional)
- Chocolinas or any brand of chocolate cookies
- One cup of freshly brewed coffee
- Valrhona dark chocolate (85%) or any quality dark chocolate for garnishing
What is Dulce de Leche?
Dulce de Leche is a heavenly sweet cream. It is a kind of sticky syrup or caramelized milk and sugar sauce.
In Argentina, it is considered a delicacy and sometimes referred to as the nation’s sweet.
You will find variations of dulce de leche in other Latin American countries as well as France, Spain, and the United States.
Dulce de leche is used in many Argentinian desserts.
AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST RECIPE: The Best Homemade Dulce de Leche in Argentina – Authentic Homemade Recipe
Argentina Chocolate Chocolina Cookies
Finding simple chocolate cookies for this recipe was surprisingly difficult. Most of the cookies at the grocery stores have some kind of filling.
If you cannot find chocolate cookies at your local grocery store, order Chocolinas, the most popular brand of Argentinian chocolate cookies.
What does the Argentina Chocotorta Taste Like?
The Chocotorta is a sensational dessert that always pleases. It is moist and soft and eaten by the spoonful.
It is not extremely sweet but rather smooth and silky. The combination of the cream cheese and sour cream cut through the sweetness of the dulce de leche.
The chocolate cookies soaked in coffee provide a wonderful mocha flavored contrast to the dark chocolate.
Argentine Chocotorta Recipe Tips
This simple Argentina chocotorta recipe is easy to make at home and can be adapted to your tastes.
You need only a few ingredients for this Argentina cake. However, do keep in mind, the better the quality of the chocotorta ingredients, the better the flavors.
What Should I Dip My Chocolate Cookies in? Milk, Coffee or Kahlua?
You’ll find several variations to the chocotorta ingredients, especially regarding what to dip the chocolate cookies in. Child-friendly versions typically use whole milk.
Whereas, Kahlua liquor is a popular version for adult only chocotorta cakes.
Interestingly, the original chocotorta recipe dipped the chocolate cookies in port wine.
How Should I Top My Chocotorta Cake?
For an elegant finish, you may top your chocotorta cake with a layer of melted chocolate. We recommend Valrhona dark chocolate (85%) a refined chocolate from the Rhône valley in France.
Or you can use any other high-quality dark chocolate for a silky and non-sweet finish.
How Long Can I Keep the Chocotorta in the Refrigerator?
If you happen to have any leftover chocotorta after your festivities, you keep it in the fridge. The chocotorta cake can keep up to 3 to 4 days in the fridge.
We found the flavors to actually get better after 2 days.
If you don’t think you’re not going to finish it in a week, you may consider freezing part of it.
Can I make the Chocotorta Argentina Cake ahead of Time?
You can easily make the chocotorta recipe up to 2 days in advance allowing the flavors to soak in completely.
Argentina Chocotorta Recipe Step by Step Instructions
Blending dulce de leche and cream cheese 
Mix well until you get a golden caramel color
Place the cream cheese in a bowl and mix thoroughly with a hand blender. Add in the dulce de leche and continue mixing until you get a light caramel color mixture.
Add sour cream or creme fraiche and mix. Taste as you mix until you get the desired level of sweetness.
Soak the chocolate cookies in coffee 
Layer chocolate cookies and dulce de leche mixture
Dip the chocolate cookies in freshly brewed coffee and then place them in a dessert tray. While it’s optional, lining the dish with parchment paper makes for less mess and easier cleanup.
Be sure not to dip the chocolate cookies for too long or they will crumble. Once you have the first layer done, spread on dulce de leche mixture and evenly with a spatula
End with the final layer of the dulce de leche mixture 
Spread melted dark chocolate on the final layer of the cake
Keep layering your cake until you end on the last layer of the dulce de leche mixture.
For the final layer, melt a few squares of high-quality dark chocolate using the bain marie method. Once melted, spread a thin layer of the chocolate over the last dulce de leche layer.
Argentina Chocotorta Recipe
This classic chocotorta Argentina cake is unbelievably easy to make. A no-bake, dulce de leche layered cake, this dessert is a guaranteed success.
Ingredients
- Dulce de Leche - 200 grams or 7oz
- Cream Cheese - 150 grams or 5.3 oz (remove from fridge and allow it to soften)
- Creme fraiche or sour cream - 30 grams or 2 tablespoons (optional)
- Chocolate Cookies 8 oz or 230 grams (depending on the size of your dish)
- 1 cup freshly brewed coffee
- 1 oz or 30 grams of Valrhona dark chocolate for garnishing
- Parchment paper (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, combine the dulce de leche and cream cheese and beat until fluffy. Add creme fraiche or sour cream and continue mixing. It should be a light caramel color with no lumps. Taste to achieve the ratio you like. Reserve
- Brew a cup of black coffee and pour it in a shallow dish. This is for dipping the chocolate cookies to make them moist. Make sure not to dip them for too long or they will get soggy and crumble.
- Line your dessert baking dish with parchment and begin building the Argentina cake.
- Submerge each chocolate cookie one by one in the coffee and line them across the parchment paper in the dessert baking dish. You may need to break up a couple of cookies to get the right geometrical shape to cover the entire surface.
- Pour some of the dulce de leche mixture and spread evenly with a spatula. Arrange another layer of coffee-soaked cookies. And then, add another layer of the dulce de leche mixture.
- Continue adding layers of chocolate cookies dipped in coffee followed by more dulce de leche mixture.
- You should have at least four layers of cookies ending with a layer of dulce de leche.
- For garnishing, melt a few squares of high-quality dark chocolate and pour on top of the last layer of dulce de leche.
- After having made the recipe for the first time, we would now recommend delicately melting the chocolate. Instead of melting the chocolate over a stovetop, we recommend using the bain marie method for a smooth finish.
- Once you have spread it out evenly, grate a few dark chocolate squares and sprinkle over the Argentina cake.
- Cover with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least four hours. The longer the Argentina cake sits in the refrigerator, the better it gets.
Notes
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 322Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 202mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 1gSugar: 27gProtein: 5g
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information is generated by an online API and makes calculations based on serving sizes. These figures are only estimates and results may vary.
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Looking for More Argentinian Local Food Experiences?
Our book, Authentic Food Quest Argentina takes you on a journey through food in four main regions of Argentina. Buenos Aires, Mendoza & the Wine Regions, the Andean Northwest, and Patagonia & the Lake Region.
In it, you’ll find descriptions of the typical dishes, desserts, beverages, street food, and unique produce not to miss. Also included is an overview of the farmers markets and local stores, restaurants, wineries, and local producers worth visiting.
Throughout the guide, are stories and insights shared by local experts including Argentina’s most renowned Chef, Francis Mallmann.
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Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Rosemary, ex-marketing and advertising strategist, is a digital nomad and content creator at Authentic Food Quest. Since 2015, with her partner, Claire, they travel the world in search of the best local food experiences. Their mission is to help you enjoy the best local specialties on your travels or via recipes in your home kitchen. Favorite country for food: Peru. Favorite local dish: Bacalhau. Favorite way to keep fit: Running. Rosemary is the chief content writer and strategist on Authentic Food Quest. She is also co-author of Authentic Food Quest Argentina and Authentic Food Quest Peru, available on Amazon.
Hi! Welcome to Authentic Food Quest. We are Claire and Rosemary. Our goal is to help you explore local culture through food. As digital nomads, we travel to share authentic food recipes and food guides from around the world so you can savor them during your travels or in your home kitchen.
This was my first time trying this and making and it came out beautifully! So so delish! Thank you. (Video was very helpful too!)
I had never heard of chocotorta before, but I am glad I found this. It’s so tasty and easy to make. The whole family loved it.
I’ve never been to Argentina but would love to visit it someday! The cake looks incredibly delicious, I want to make it this weekend!
So glad you enjoyed the tasty visit to Argentina via the chocotorta cake. Once you make it, your desire to visit will multiply 🙂 Please do send us a picture of how it turns out. Cheers.
I am so excited to make this cake! Looks heavenly!!
You are most welcome, Taylor. Can’t wait for you to make it too 🙂 Don’t forget to send us a pic and tag us. Cheers.
My mouth is watering every time I read through the list of ingredients for this recipe. So delicious…and SO easy! Thanks for sharing 🙂
You are so welcome, Traci. Once you make it, you will devour it. Tasty and delicious. Give it a try 🙂
Don’t think I’ve ever had Argentinean food. But if this does taste like tiramisu my mom would love it!
The layering and the flavors all look so amazing. I do not think I will ever make something so good so I will see if they have it in a special bakery.
Yum, this looks like a tasty cake! I need to try it out for sure. I bet my family will love it.
Wow, it looks like it would be a lot harder to make. I can’t wait to try this!
I have never heard of this dessert before. It sounds delicious! This would be fun to make.
This looks really yummy. I would love to get this recipe a try.
I love everything chocolate. I will definitely love this one, especially it’s so easy to make it.
As a chocolate lover, you will love it. In less than a half-hour you can transport yourself to Argentina with this local treat. Do let us know how it turns out. Cheers.
Wow, this so delicious and so easy to make.
I will definitely making this for my kids.
Perfect, Gervin. And, please do send us pics of how it turns out. Cheers.
That cake looks so delicious. I would like to try to make it for my family. It is nice to be able to try treats from different countries.
Could not agree more with you, Janeane. Trying treats from around the world, especially simple ones, is fun for the family. Thanks for stopping by.
Oh wow this looks like an insanely delicious chocolates treat. All those layers!
Oh my! It has coffee so I have no doubt it is divine. I can’t wait to try this. Thanks for the recipe!
Glad you liked the article, Lyndee.Cheers.
It looks like a delicious dessert! If I can find the ingredients, I’m going to try and make it for my daughter’s birthday in the fall.
Perfect to hear, Beth. All the ingredients are easily available and also on Amazon. It will be a nice surprise for your daughter’s birthday. Let us know how she likes it. Cheers.
This looks amazing. I’ve never had anything like it before. I am definitely going to try this recipe out. I can’t wait to see how it tastes.
Great to hear Kathy. Can’t wait to hear what you think of it when you try it. Don’t forget to tag us with your pics. Cheers 🙂
Chocolate cake is always good. You’re right that isn’t something that you find on the menu ever. What a treat!
I never been to Argentina, but this birthday cake looks delicious I would love to try at home. Thanks for shairng.
Glad you enjoyed the recipe, Swathi. Cheers.
Oh wow, those layers are perfection! Definitely adding this to my weekend baking list!
Great to hear, Jessica. Tasty and simple to make. You friends and family will love it. Cheers
Such an interesting recipe. Looks delicious. I will definitely give this a try. Thanks!
Thank you, Natalie. Do let us know how yours turns out 🙂 Cheers.
I have never heard of this cake before, but I love all the layering in it.
Such a fun and easy dessert to make. Delicious!
Wow, this cake was so delicious! Loved the cracker layer to give it an alternating crisp texture.
Indeed, love the crispy textures and smooth dulce de leche. Yum!
I just thave to try this! Can’t believe I missed it in all my time spent in Argentina?!
So glad you now have the recipe, Emmeline. It’s a typical home made dessert and not easily available at restaurants. Try it 🙂 Cheers.
Delicious and creamy and so easy to make too. My kids would definitely love to do it themselves. Perfect for a kids party.
You are right, perfect for a kids party 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
Almost all people love chocolate cake. Your recipe to prepare chocolate cake is so nice and easy to cook. I tried this and it was too delicious. Thanks for sharing this recipe with us.
Thank you so much Roshan for your feedback. And, thrilled to hear you loved the cake. Truly delicious and so simple. The best part is the no-oven required part. You made our day. Cheers.
At the very beginning I layered crumbs of Panettone that gave my cake a different texture and intriguing flavor for the small pieces of dry fruits on it. Then continued the recipe, but since no Chocolina were available, the use of separated extra thin Chocolate Oreo cookies made its part. to finish, I spread the Nutella on top and sprinkled it with chocolate powder. The result was super-delicious! A couple of photos here can show my wonderful choco-torta, but don’t know how to upload them in here!!!
Thanks for sharing your photos, Marcos. What a wonderful way to get creative with this recipe. Sounds like it worked out perfectly. Appreciate your feedback and can’t wait for you to make it again 🙂 Cheers.
I did not have any idea of simplicity becoming deliciousness until making this no-bake jewel. Frankly saying it, the “dulce de leche” combined with Nutella on top gave me goose spunks about an excess of sweetness. But following your recipe (plus some freedom of selection on my side) had my family and friends enjoying a perfect dessert while filling my ears with cheers. No doubts I will make it again and again and again! Thanks for your inspirational guidance!
We are so thrilled to hear how you adapted this chocotorta recipe. So glad your family enjoyed it and that you’ll be making it again. Your feedback means a lot, thank you, Marcos.
Just finished making this for an Argentinian themed dinner to celebrate Malbec Day tomorrow. It was ridiculously easy to make and I can’t wait to try it. I couldn’t resist dipping a cookie in the dulce de leche mixture. Yum!
That is so wonderful to hear Tia. Feel free to share your photos by tagging << authenticfoodquest >> on Facebook. You are right, incredibly simple and delicious. So glad you tried it. Cheers.